The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-09
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Additional Comments and Criticisms by HoI
q

Additional Comments and Criticisms by Hon.
James G. Blaine.
! The Journal of yesterday printed the larger
! portion of an interview with Mr.. Blaine, in
which he commented the Presidents mes
sage A part of the interview was delayed, and
/ it is presented below. In response to the ques
ton, 'Don't you think it important to increase
our export tradeF" Mr.. Blaine said:
Undoubtedly; but it is vastly moro impor
| tant not to lose own great market for our
own people in the vain effort to reach the I'M
possible. 1t is not our foreign trade that has
caused the wonderful growth and expansion OF
/ the Republic. It is the vast domestic trade be-
/ tween thrty-eieht States and eight Territories
| with population OF perhaps 62, U00, Ooo to-day.
| The whole amount of our export and import
| trade together never, l think. reached 81. gu,
| OO0 900 any one year. Our internal home trade
on 130 900 miles of railway along 10 GOO miles OF
| ocean coast over the five great lakes and along
/ 10000 miles of navigable rivers, reaches the
enormous annual aggregate of more than $40. 600,
| OOO. 0OO and perhaps this year $50. 000 O00, 000
1T is to this illimitsble trade, now in its
infancy aud destined to attain a magnitude not
| dreamed of twenty years ago, that Europeans
are struggling to enter Ii IS the heritage of the
| AmeNean people, of their children. and of their
| children's children 1t gives absolutely free
trade a territory nearly as large as all Eu-
| rope, and the profit all our own. The genuine
free-t trader appears unable TO see or comprehend
| that this continental trade-not our exchanges
| with Europe-is the great source of our prosper
ity. President Cleveland now plainly proposes
policy that will admit Europe to share this
trade"
But you are in favor of extending our for
eign trade. are you not!
Certainly 1 am in all practical and advanta-
eeous ways, but not on the principle of the free
traders, by which shall be constantly exchang-
ing dollar for dime. Moreover. foreign trade is
often very delusive. Cotton is manufactured in
the city of my residence 1t a box OF cotton
goods is sent 200 miles to the Province of New
Brunswick. it is foreign trade. If shipped H.
600 miles round Cape Horn to Washington Ter
rttn dorm in rad ha m ffrda n
the Union and the immensely OF its internal
trade require new political economy. Treatises
written for European states do not grasp our
peculiar situation"
"How will the Presidents message be taken
In the Southf
Il don't dare answer that question The truth
has been so long obscured Dy certain local ques-
tions and unreasonable prejudice that nobody
can hope for industrial enlightenment among
their leaders just yet. But IN my view. the
South, above all sections of the Union, needs
protective tariff. The two Vircinias, North Car
DINA, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee Alabama
and Georgia have enormous resources and facil-
titles for developing and handling manufactures
They can not do anything without protection.
Even q progress vast some of those States
made will be checked if the Presidents message
is enacted into a law. Their Sena tors and Rep
resentatives can prevent it, but they are so used
to following anything labeled Democratic very
probably they will follow the President and
blight the progress already made. By the time
some of the Southern States get free iron
and coal. while tobacco is taxed they may have
occasion
Democratic free trade to their local interests"
Twill not the Presidents recommendation to
admit raw material find strong supports"
mot by wise protectiouists in our time. Per-
haps some greedy manufacturers may think that
with free coal or free iron-ore they can do great
things. but if they should succeed in trying they
will, as the boys say, catch it the bound. If
hometrade in material is destroyed seri-
ously injured railroads will be the first feel it.
If that vast interest is crippled in any direction,
the financial fabric of the whole country will feel
il quickly and seriously. IL any man can give
reason why we should arrange the tariff to favor
the raw material of other countries in competi-
ton against material of the same kind.
should like to hear il. Should that recommends
ton of the President be approved, it would turn
100000 American laborers out OF employment
before it had been year in operation"
What must be the marked and general effect
of the Presidents message"
at will bring the country where it ought to
be brought-to full. fair contest on the ques-
ton of protection. The President himself
makes it one issue by presenting other in his
message. l think it we'll to have tho question
settled. The Democratic party in power is a
standing menace to the industrial prosperity
of the country. That menace should be
moved or the policy it foreshadows : should be
business as uncertainty, nothing so paralyzi
doubt"
What the Southern Iron Men Think of 1t.
Birmingham tAla) Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.
To say that Cleveland's message was q sur
prise to the iron men of this city would express
it mildly. In this immediate district there
now in course of erection twelve furnaces and
about two thousand coke ovens, and the owners
of these enterprises did not expect any tariff
reduction for several years at least.
II. NJ. Caldwell, president of the Elyton Land
Company, which recently commenced the erec-
ton of large car-works, engine and boiler-works
and other industries, said THE message is
very unfortunate for the party and for the
business interests of the country, but don't
think it will affect this section very materia ly
We will go with works. for it is not
probable that any reduction Of the tariff will be
made at this session of Congress"
Ex-Copgressman G. W. Hewitt (Democrat),
who is interested in manufacturing says: Il
am out of politics, but l cannot agree with
Cevelands policy. If that is Democracy,
this section doesn't want any of it. I would
favor Randall for President, but 1 fear Cleve-
land will be renominated."
prominent furnace owner said: 1.-The issue
before the country now is protection free
trade, and protection will win. None of the
Birmingham furnaces" he continued Twill shut
down on account of the message, for if there is
any place in the United States where manufact-
urers can live under free trade this is the place;
but we don't want any free trade"
Summed up, the opinion of leading manufact-
urers here is that the message will defeat the
Democratic party next year. and will also have
the effect of stopping further Investments in
manufacturing until there is new adtninistra-
ton
The Daily Age. of this city, the leading pro-
lection paper of the South. saws edltorially that
ALI partv lines ara now obliberatad There will
DO longer be Democrats or Republicans. but pro-
tectionists and free-traders. This opinion is in
dorsed by business men and manufacturers Of
the city.
Press Comment.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette: The President
has hoisted the standard of his party. 1t Is the
cold-wave flag, and Democrats will govern them
selves accordingly.
Memphis Avalanche: It is the key note of the
campaign, and with it Cleveland and the Demo-
cratic party must stand or fall 1t has about it
something that is prophetic of success. and yet
it brings with it the murmur of a battle fercer